OTTAWA — A former Alberta provincial cabinet minister fighting Calgary MP Rob Anders for the Conservative nomination has complained to Elections Canada and the telecommunications watchdog that the MP’s team made fraudulent phone calls to party members.

It’s the latest twist in a heated nomination battle that saw Prime Minister Stephen Harper on Monday officially endorse the controversial Anders for the Conservative nomination for the 2015 federal election in the redrawn riding of Calgary Signal Hill.

Former Alberta Progressive Conservative cabinet minister Ron Liepert said dozens of Conservative party members in the Calgary Signal Hill riding have complained to him that they received phone calls on Friday from people claiming to be either from Liepert’s campaign or the Conservative party, when, in fact, they were not.

The callers asked voters if they were planning to support Liepert in the upcoming nomination vote, expected to be held sometime between April 10 and April 15, he said. When people called back that same number from which the phone calls originated, “in every case” officials at the Anders campaign answered, Liepert said Monday.

The Liepert campaign says it has filed complaints with Elections Canada and the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) asking them to investigate the alleged fraudulent phone calls.

“This is very serious stuff. You can’t impersonate somebody,” Liepert said Monday in an interview with the Ottawa Citizen.

“What’s happened, I suspect, is that they got tired of being blasted or hung up on when they identified themselves as the Rob Anders campaign.”

Anders could not be reached for comment on the allegations.

In the complaint to Elections Canada, a copy of which has been seen by The Ottawa Citizen, the Liepert campaign says Anders “is calling constituents and misrepresenting himself.”

The Canada Elections Act applies to party nomination contests for the financial reporting of candidates, but it’s not immediately clear whether the act addresses alleged misleading phone calls in party nomination races.

Conservative party member Molly Henderson, a resident of the newly redrawn Calgary Signal Hill riding, said she received a call around 7:30 p.m. Friday from someone claiming to be from the Liepert campaign.

A supporter of Liepert’s, she didn’t think much of it at the time. But any hint that another candidate’s campaign would misrepresent themselves would be hugely “disappointing,” she said Monday.

Harper’s endorsement of Anders comes as the Conservative backbencher faces a serious challenge from Liepert, a well-known former Alberta provincial minister.

It’s unusual for the prime minister and Conservative party leader to endorse a particular candidate in a contested riding when the party has promised open nominations. However, it’s believed Harper is providing an endorsement quote for all incumbent Conservative MPs being challenged for nominations.

Henderson, who’s in her 70s, said she’s also disappointed in Harper for endorsing Anders, “particularly in a riding that is as unsettled as this one.”

Anders is a longtime Conservative member of Parliament known for his strong socially and fiscally conservative views —
and sometimes inflammatory statements.

The 41-year-old Anders posted a release on his nomination website Monday that says Harper has endorsed him for the Conservative party nomination in Calgary Signal Hill.

“Rob Anders has been a strong voice in our Caucus and Conservative Government as well as a valued member of our team,” says a quote attributed to Harper. “The Road to 2015 is one that needs strong, stable leadership and I’ve been able to count on Rob to get real results for his riding and our country.”

The Prime Minister’s Office directed media inquiries to the Conservative Party of Canada. “I can confirm that the quote can be attributed to the Prime Minister and leader of our party,” Conservative party spokesman Cory Hann said in an email.

Hann wouldn’t say whether Harper plans on endorsing any other Conservative candidates, nor would he address whether it’s appropriate to do so in an open nomination race.